Wednesday 22nd April - Glasgow Green, Glasgow.
Glasgow Green played host to the annual SDS/SFA National 5-a-side Championships for players with a learning impairment on Wednesday 22nd April. The weather was in stark contrast from the previous year, with splitting sunshine throughout the entire day which made for ideal playing conditions for the impressive number of teams and players on show.
Lothian were able to enter two Junior teams due to the excellent turn out at the March Regional event which acted as a selection day. Both Lothian teams were placed in the A Division of the Junior competition along with strong teams from Highland and Fife - each team performing well in the group stage of the competition and successfully navigating their passage into the semi final where they were unfortunately drawn together. After a well matched start to the game, it was the young men from Lothian 'B' who stamped their authority on the match, going on to claim a convincing victory and therefore reaching the final, where they would meet Buchanan of Highland. The final captured the day as a whole, with some extremely exciting, free flowing football being played. Lothian 'B' twice came from behind with goals from youngster Dylan Band-Borthwick (Donaldson's) and a stunning long range strike from Stephen Pricthard (Woodlands) to level the scores at 2-2. However, despite the goalmouth heroics from Woodlands' David Jenkinson, the team from the north of Scotland claimed the victory and the gold medal with a goal in the dying seconds of the match. A great effort from all the boys involved, in terms of the level of football played and the manner in which they represented the region. All players are listed below -
| Lothian 'A' | Lothian 'B' |
| Dan Fletcher (West Calder) | David Jenkinson (Woodlands) |
| Declan Murray (Woodlands) | Adam Smith (Cedarbank) |
| Andrew Imrie (Kaimes) | Ryan Nimmo (West Calder) |
| David Anderson (Kaimes) | Brandon McCusker (Cedarbank) |
| Jack Cruickshank (West Calder) |
Dylan Band-Borthwick (Donaldson's) |
|
Stephen Prictchard (Woodlands) |
Thanks is extended to all the teachers and support staff who worked hard prior and during the event to enable the young people the opportunity to represent the Lothian Branch.
Neal Herbert -Lothian Disability Sport
